Chhatisgarh: Cong alleges cover-up of cases of rape by security

Raipur: The mainopposition Congress today staged awalkout from the Chhattisgarh Assembly demanding probe by a high-powered committee into alleged rape of tribal women by the security forces in the Naxal-affected Bijapur district.

During the Question Hour, Congress MLA Mohan Markam sought to know how many cases of rape and road accidents were registered in Bastar division in 2014 and 2015.

In-charge Home Minister Ajay Chandrakar said 294 cases of rape and 3,028 of road accidents were registered in 2014 and 2015 in Bastar division. Investigation was complete in 3,098 cases (257 rape cases and 2,841 accidents), he said.

Markam then asked about the status of some specific rape cases in Bijapur district, to which the minister said he will provide the details of those cases to the MLA.

Interrupting him, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said that tribal women from Peddagelur, Chinnagelur and Lendra villages had alleged that they were raped by security forces.

FIRs were lodged but nobody was arrested, Baghel said, demanding that a high-powered committee or a senior secretary level officer should probe the charges.

Chandrakar said he will direct the superintendent of police to probe these cases.

Baghel said a Congress delegation had visited the area after the incidents came to light, and the Inspector General of Police and the SPs were trying to suppress the issue, so an investigation by a senior secretary or a director general of police (DGP) level officer was needed.

The minister said there was no cover-up attempt and the guilty would be punished after a transparent probe.

Not satisfied with his reply, Congress MLAs shouted slogans accusing the BJP government of shielding the accused and staged a walkout from the House.